Bettman to AZ Legislature: Coyotes need new arena to succeed

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is asking the Arizona Legislature to pass a bill - Senate Bill 1149 - that would provide public funds for a new arena for the Coyotes.

In a letter submitted Tuesday, Bettman maintained the Greater Phoenix region represents a "strong hockey market which we are proud to have included in the NHL." At the same time, however, the current home arena situation is untenable at best.

Bettman wrote:

The Coyotes current location in Glendale at Gila River Arena is not economically capable of supporting a successful NHL franchise. For the past 15 years a succession of ownership groups have have tried everything imaginable to make the Glendale location financial sustainable. Our combined efforts have all yielded the same result - a consistent economic loss.

The simple truth: The Arizona Coyotes must have a new arena location to succeed. The Coyotes cannot and will not remain in Glendale.

On Feb. 3, Arizona State University pulled the plug on a proposed new home for the Coyotes in Tempe.

The passing of Bill SB 1149 would open up $225 million in public funds for a $395-million arena project in the East Valley area of Phoenix.

In the meantime, the Coyotes remain on a year-to-year lease at Gila River Arena.

Copyright (C) 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.